Amnesty International - Russia: Voters’ rights NGO is first victim of ‘foreign agents’ law
Today's decision by a Moscow court to fine an independent non-governmental organization and its leader is an alarming indicator for the future of civil society in Russia, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said today.
The Association in Defence of Voters’ Rights Golos (Voice) became the first Russian nongovernmental organizations to fall afoul of the “foreign agents” law. It was fined 300,000 rubles (almost US$10,000). Golos played a prominent role in organizing election monitoring and reporting allegations of electoral fraud in the 2011 parliament and 2012 presidential elections.
The Russian authorities accused Golos of receiving approximately $10,000 in prize money after being presented the Andrei Sakharov Freedom Award by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, though the group instructed its bank to return the money, which it did. The Ministry of Justice claimed that Golos’ advocacy for the adoption of a unified Electoral Code sought to “influence public opinion and decisions of government bodies”, which, in their opinion, constituted “political activity”.
“Today’s ruling is a shot across the bow at Russian civil society and a terrible precedent,” said Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, who attended the hearing. “Russian authorities should withdraw the case against Golos and welcome, rather than hinder, NGO work.”
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/russia-voters-rights-ngo-first-victim-foreign-agents-law-2013-04-25
Probably not a good idea in Russia to organize election monitoring and reporting on allegations of electoral fraud. If the activists that work for The Association in Defence of Voters’ Rights Golos stay out of prison they should consider themselves fortunate.
The fact that they had the gall to win a $10,000 prize from Norway (a country that we all know is dieing to take over Russia) for their efforts probably accelerated the government focusing on their activities. Too bad they returned that prize money since that is about the size of the fine that has been levied on them by the Russian government. (Of course, if they had actually accepted the prize money from dreaded Norway, who knows how much trouble they would be in.)